Echinacea plant named ‘Balsomold’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Echinacea plant named ‘Balsomold’, characterized by its single-type, deep golden-yellow colored inflorescences, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, compact-upright growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Echinacea x hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘Balsomold’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Echinacea plant botanically known as Echinacea x hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balsomold’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Elburn, Ill. during August 2010. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Echinacea cultivars with a single inflorescence form having imbricate ray florets and a well-branched, compact growth habit.

The new Echinacea cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Echinacea x hybrida breeding selection coded E78-5, not patented, characterized by its single-type, medium yellow-colored ray florets, medium green-colored foliage, and vigorous, semi-upright growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is from a bulk pollen mix of ten proprietary Echinacea x hybrida breeding selections coded E78-1 through E78-10, not patented, characterized by their single-type, medium yellow-colored ray florets, medium green-colored foliage, and vigorous, semi-upright growth habit. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollination during September 2011 in a controlled environment in Elburn, Ill.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by in vitro shoot propagation since September 2011 in West Chicago, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Balsomold’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Echinacea plant:

-   -   1. Single-type, deep golden-yellow colored inflorescences;     -   2. Medium green-colored foliage; and     -   3. Moderately vigorous, compact-upright growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female and possible male parents primarily in ray floret color and in having a more compact habit.

Of the many commercially available Echinacea cultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is SOMBRERO Sandy Yellow ‘Balsomselo’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,104. However, in side by side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Balsomselo’ in at least the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have a darker orange-yellow ray         floret color than plants of ‘Balsomselo’;     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have shorter ray florets than         plants of ‘Balsomselo’; and     -   3. Plants of the new cultivar have a receptacle spine color that         is slightly different from plants of ‘Balsomselo’. The         receptacle spine of ‘Balsomold’ has a darker and brighter shade         of greyed-orange as well as a small spot of dark red at the tip.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical inflorescence and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balsomold’. The plants were approximately 20-weeks old and grown in Elburn, Ill. in one-gallon containers for approximately 4 weeks in a greenhouse and 8 weeks outdoors.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Balsomold’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual inflorescence of ‘Balsomold’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined in July 2017 under natural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe approximately 20-week old plants produced from in vitro plantlets and grown utilizing a soilless growth medium under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown in Elburn, Ill. in one-gallon containers in a glass-covered greenhouse for approximately 4 weeks and then outside for approximately 8 weeks. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 60° F. to 65° F. (15.5° C. to 18.3° C.) during the day and approximately 55° F. to 60° F. (12.7° C. to 15.5° C.) during the night. No supplemental lighting was provided. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Echinacea x hybrida ‘Balsomold’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Echinacea x hybrida breeding             selection coded E78-5, not patented.         -   Male parent.—Bulk pollen mix of ten proprietary Echinacea x             hybrida breeding selections coded E78-1 through E78-10, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—In vitro propagation is preferred, divisions are             possible.         -   Time to initiate roots in vitro.—Approximately 30 days at             18° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plantlet in summer.—Approximately             30 days at 18° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; grey to light brown in             color.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderate density, moderate branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 10 to 12 weeks from a             rooted tissue culture plantlet to finish in a 15 cm             container.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Herbaceous perennial,             moderately vigorous, compact-upright.         -   Hardiness.—USDA Zone 5a (−20° F. to −15° F./−28.9° C. to             −26° C.).         -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:             Approximately 41.0 cm. Width: Approximately 44.0 cm.         -   Branching habit.—No lateral branching, flowering stems grow             from base. Quantity of main stems per plant: Approximately             4.         -   Stems.—Strength: Very strong. Aspect: Nearly erect. Shape:             Rounded. Length to base of inflorescence: Approximately             17.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 6.0 mm to 1.0 cm. Length of             central internode: Approximately 3.5 cm. Texture: Sparsely             pubescent with short strigose hairs. Color of young and             mature stems: 144A to 144B. -   Foliage description:     -   -   General description.—Form: Simple. Arrangement: Alternate.         -   Leaves.—Aspect: Perpendicular to stem, subtending with age.             Shape: Ovate to lanceolate. Margin: Entire to shallowly             serrate, slightly undulate. Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate.             Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature leaf:             Approximately 13.0 cm to 16.0 cm. Width of mature leaf:             Approximately 4.5 cm to 6.5 cm. Texture of upper surface:             Dull, slightly rugulose, moderately pubescent with short             strigose hairs. Texture of lower surface: Moderately             pubescent with short strigose hairs. Color of upper surface             of young and mature foliage: Closest to 137A with venation             of 147C. Color of lower surface of young and mature foliage:             Closest to 147B with venation of 147D.         -   Petiole.—Shape: V-shaped. Length: Approximately 4.0 cm to             12.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 3.0 mm. Texture of upper             and lower surfaces: Glabrous. Color of upper and lower             surfaces: 147D. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balsomold’ is freely flowering under             outdoor growing conditions blooming from spring through             autumn and with limited flowering under short winter days in             a greenhouse environment.         -   Lastingness of individual inflorescence on the             plant.—Approximately 3 weeks. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Solitary, composite. Persistent.             Shape: Conical. Aspect: Facing upward. Arrangement:             Terminal, held upright on strong peduncles. Fragrance:             Faintly sweet. Quantity per plant: Approximately 9. Height:             Approximately 4.5 cm. Diameter: Approximately 8.0 cm.         -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect to approximately             45° from vertical. Length: Approximately 13.0 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 5.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent with short             strigose hairs. Color: 144A to 144B.         -   Bud.—Quantity per plant: Approximately 7. Shape: Flattened             globular with immature ray florets nearly erect. Length:             Approximately 1.7 cm. Diameter: Approximately 2.3 cm. Color:             Outer ray florets of 1D; bud center of 143A.         -   Ray florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: Approximately 20.             Arrangement: In a single whorl, imbricate. Aspect:             Perpendicular to disc, subtending with age, twisting absent.             Shape: Elliptic to narrowly obovate. Appearance: Dull.             Margin: Entire. Apex: Emarginate to notched. Base:             Attenuate. Length: Approximately 3.5 cm. Width:             Approximately 1.4 cm to 1.5 cm. Texture of upper and lower             surfaces: Glabrous, ribbed longitudinally. Color of upper             surface when first and fully open: 23A to 23B. Color of             lower surface when first and fully open: 4D with 144A at             tip.         -   Disc florets.—Disc diameter: Approximately 4.0 cm. Quantity             per inflorescence: Approximately 375. Arrangement: Spirally             arranged in center of inflorescence. Shape: Tubular. Margin             of free portion: Entire. Apex: Five acute tips. Base: Fused             into a tube. Length: Approximately 1.0 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color of upper or             inner surface when first and fully open: 145D with 145B at             tips. Color of lower or outer surface when first and fully             open: 145C transitioning to 155D at base and 145B at tips.         -   Receptacle.—Shape: Conical. Height: Approximately 1.0 cm.             Diameter: Approximately 1.7 cm. Color: 155D.         -   Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence Approximately 48.             Arrangement: In three whorls. Appearance: Dull, stiff.             Shape: Narrowly ovate to lanceolate, strongly curved towards             the peduncle. Margin: Entire, ciliate. Apex: Acute. Base:             Truncate. Length: Approximately 1.2 cm. Width: Approximately             3.0 to 5.0 mm. Texture of upper or inner surface: Glabrous.             Texture of lower or outer surface: Sparsely pubescent with             short strigose hairs. Color of upper surface: 137A. Color of             lower surface: 137B.         -   Receptacle spines.—Number of spines per disc:             Approximately 375. Shape: Acicular, Length: Approximately             1.4 cm. Width at widest point: Approximately 2.0 mm. Apex:             Acute. Base: Truncate. Texture: Glabrous. Color: Apex of             N163A to N163B with a small spot of 187A at tip, mid-section             of 144A, and base of 155D.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets             only. Stamen quantity: 5 per floret. Anther shape: Oblong,             basifixed. Anther length: Approximately 3.0 mm. Anther             color: Closest to 203B. Filament length: Approximately             2.0 mm. Filament color: 145D. Pollen amount: Moderate.             Pollen color: 14A. Gynoecium: Present on disc florets only.             Pistil quantity: 1 per floret. Pistil length: Approximately             1.0 cm. Stigma shape: Bifid. Stigma length: Approximately             2.0 mm. Stigma color: 145B. Style length: Approximately             6.0 mm. Style color: 145D. Ovary length: Approximately             3.0 mm. Ovary color: 155D. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: No particular resistance or     susceptibility to other diseases or insects noted to date. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Echinacea plant named ‘Balsomold’, substantially as herein illustrated and described. 